I'm back in 1990

Chapter 868: The King of Children

Barclays Bank quickly transferred the money to the designated account in multiple installments, in accordance with the termination agreement. They also completed the transfer of $13 billion worth of fruit company stock, thus finalizing the transaction.

Coincidentally, just after the two parties reached a termination agreement, the European Central Bank announced an injection of 940 billion euros into the market. The reason for this was that BNP Paribas was unable to assess the losses on its US subprime assets, resulting in a liquidity crunch.

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve injected $240 billion into the U.S. banking system to prevent the crisis from spreading, but it was too late.

Throughout August, banks and hedge funds around the world announced huge losses due to subprime-related assets.

The money mysteriously dried up and evaporated, which led to the complete cessation of interbank lending.

Because there is no trust between banks, no one knows how many hidden risks are on the other's balance sheet or how big a hole they have dug for themselves, so no one is willing to lend money to the other.

Zhang Sui reported the latest situation to her boss via encrypted phone: "Boss, according to the current situation, the subprime market has collapsed. According to the latest data from yesterday, there have been no new subprime loan issuances, and the existing subprime default rate is still rising sharply. This has led to panic and a freeze in the credit markets in the United States and Europe, making it extremely difficult for businesses and individuals to obtain loans, which will soon affect the real economy."

Huang Xiaochuan was already aware of this: "The chain reaction is irreversible. How are the negotiations with other banks regarding terminating the contracts going?"

"Everything went smoothly. BNP Paribas was short of liquidity, so most of it was offset by its own stock, and the remainder was paid in cash. All of it has been settled."

"So, we're shareholders of BNP Paribas now?" Huang Xiaochuan hadn't expected this unexpected discovery.

Zhang Sui smiled: "Yes, boss! Congratulations!"

However, Huang Xiaochuan was not particularly surprised by this gain, because his ultimate goal was to control a bank, not to be a minority shareholder in an investment bank. Nevertheless, the shares in BNP Paribas were a high-quality asset, suitable for long-term holding, which was quite good.

"You deserve some credit for this too. If it's convenient, please come to Shanghai soon." Huang Xiaochuan was never stingy with his generosity towards Zhang Sui.

Zhang Sui readily agreed: "Okay, I'll go to Shanghai after I finish this phase of negotiations."

Just then, an impatient voice came through the phone: "Dad, hurry up! Why are you dawdling?" Zhang Sui immediately guessed that it was her boss's little princess.

Sure enough, Zhang Sui heard Huang Xiaochuan say, "Alright, I have something to do. I'll pick you up from the airport myself when you arrive." Huang Xiaochuan hung up the phone after saying that, then replied to his daughter, "Coming, coming! What's the rush?"

At this moment, the little girl Huang Ruiying appeared at the study door. A few days ago, she and her two older sisters, Liujin and Xuanxuan, had planned to go to Hangzhou for a few days. However, Yu Xiang had recently reached a critical stage in the clinical trial of KRB01, so she couldn't take them. Tang Jianhua's restaurant business was busy, and her eldest sister, Zeng Hong, had to go help out. Her second sister, Zeng Xia, was also busy taking care of Huo Miao at home.

Looking around, Huang Xiaochuan seemed to be the most free, and he didn't have any academic activities recently, so the task of taking a few children to Hangzhou was assigned to him.

When we got downstairs, wow! A whole bunch of Boy Scouts, with an ugly freak following at the very back.

All the children from the Huang and Zeng families were present, except for Huang Zeji, who was going to Shanghai University for a programming summer camp, and Huang Ruidan, who was still being held in someone's arms.

Even Migo came.

Seeing the children standing in the shade, Huang Xiaochuan asked, "Why aren't you getting in the car? Aren't you hot?" He then added, "Tang Ruixuan, Huang Zemian, you two are the older and older sister respectively, so I'm leaving these children in your care. Take them to the car, hurry up!"

Tang Ruixuan and Huang Zemian naturally obeyed their uncle's (younger brother's) words. They led their younger siblings in two teams and boarded the Coaster parked at the gate of the courtyard. Ugly Monster even tried to get on the bus, but Huang Xiaochuan kicked him back home without any politeness. Pugs have short nasal cavities and are not suitable for staying outdoors for long periods in the summer, which is a fatal flaw.

After setting off, Huang Ruiying sidled up to her father and asked, "Dad! Do you think there's a Ji Gong (a legendary monk) at Lingyin Temple?"

Huang Xiaochuan stated truthfully, "No!"

The little girl gave her father a disdainful look: "Tch, uncultured. There are five hundred Arhats in Lingyin Temple. The Arhat who subdues dragons is Ji Gong. The Arhat who subdues dragons is also called Venerable Kasyapa. You don't even know that?" It seems the little girl did her homework beforehand.

However, her behavior made her father lose face. A PhD in economics, a former associate professor, and a Clark Medal winner, was actually looked down upon by his own daughter for being uncultured. Where can he find justice?

Huang Xiaochuan immediately wanted to put the little girl in a difficult position: "Oh, you know quite a lot! Okay, then let me test you, when was Lingyin Temple first built?"

This stumped the little girl, and none of the other children knew either. Who would remember the history of a temple for no reason?

I didn't expect this little girl to be so shrewd. Unable to answer herself, she even asked her father, "Do you know?"

Unfortunately, the little girl didn't know that her father had a photographic memory. Huang Xiaochuan had actually read about the origins of Lingyin Temple, so he could recall it easily.

"Of course I know, otherwise you'll say I'm uncultured again. Listen, Lingyin Temple was first built in the first year of Xianhe in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, which is 326 AD. Later, when Emperor Kangxi, that pockmarked emperor, made his southern tour, he gave it a different name, Yunlin Temple. However, everyone still calls it Lingyin Temple. The main reason this temple is famous is its long history, which is almost 1,800 years old. Moreover, it is located in the scenic West Lake area, and with the added blessing of the legend of Ji Gong, it naturally attracts a constant stream of tourists."

"Clap clap clap clap!"

A whole group of children, young and old, applauded, which made Huang Xiaochuan's vanity explode.

I've earned billions and I don't feel this sense of accomplishment. It seems I'm still a know-it-all at heart!

A few hours later, Huang Xiaochuan and his children checked into the Junting Hotel by West Lake, near the Central Academy of Fine Arts. The major shareholder of this hotel is a fund under Huang Xiaochuan's name, so the group occupied an entire floor. Standing on the balcony of their room, they could directly enjoy the famous Ten Scenes of West Lake.

After settling the children in, Huang Xiaochuan made a phone call to Yu Xiang.

"Have you arrived?" Yu Xiang asked over the phone.

"We've arrived. We're at the hotel now and have just settled in." Huang Xiaochuan said while looking at the beautiful West Lake scenery outside. Everything else was fine, except it was too hot.

Yu Xiang teased the man, "How's it going? Being a leader of kids isn't easy, is it?"

"Tch, you underestimate me."

"Okay, I'm pretty busy here. I'll call you again tonight." Yu Xiang seemed to be very busy at the moment, and she quickly hung up the phone.